Major drug shortages hit Region 2

TIMES INT'L

People’s Progressive Party Councillor Arnold Adams has reported at the Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) statutory meeting for the month of October that there are major drugs shortages within the region.
Addressing his fellow Councillors, Adams said the majority of drugs are short supplied to the Suddie Public Hospital from the MMU; explaining that when this happens, health centres throughout the coast are left without essential medicines.
“Suddie Public Hospital is the hub for medication distribution, it’s the mother if they don’t have then all other centres don’t have, people are suffering and we need to address this issue,” Adams said.
Adams, who is the Chairman of the Health and Sanitation Committee, said over 90 per cent of drugs are in short supply at the hospital. He said basic injections as well as saline are also scarce. Adams further related that many patients are often asked to purchase their own medications from pharmacies, which he described as unacceptable.
At the meeting, Adams called on the Public Health Minister to investigate the massive drugs shortage within the region.
Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt, in commenting on the issue said an analysis of the region’s budgetary allocations and expenditures for 2017 shows that Region Two was given G$186,099,000 in its 2017 Budget. Of this amount, Ramdatt said only G$2 million was released up to the end of September 2017.
He therefore said that it must be made clear that the Regional health officials have done all that is necessary to secure the much-needed financial resources to procure drugs and medical supplies.
At a recent meeting held at the Finance Ministry, the matter engaged discussions and a commitment was given that available funds from the region’s allocation will be released.
Ramdatt said while he is pleased with such a decision, his major concern is for the authorities to closely review the systems that are in place so that Region Two can have adequate medical supplies.
He said the reality is quality health care and the people are affected while adequate financial provisions are available in the budget.

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